Covering Dunstable and nearby
From shops and surgeries to schools, care homes and private houses, any building in the LU6 postcode district can be covered for drive unit replacement. Specialist engineers working under our management carry out the work, and you deal with us as the contracting party from start to finish.
Council offices, libraries, leisure centres and other public buildings in Dunstable usually buy through procurement rules. Itemised written prices, method statements and the paperwork a buyer needs can all be provided, and the work is carried out by specialist engineers working under our management.
Nearby towns we also list for drive unit replacement (straight-line distance): Luton (4.5 miles), Leighton Buzzard (6.2 miles), Harpenden (8.5 miles), Berkhamsted (8.8 miles), Hemel Hempstead (9.6 miles), Hitchin (11.0 miles).
What to think about for drive unit replacement in Dunstable
- Heavy glass leaves need an operator rated for their weight. The survey records the size and glass type of each leaf so the right drive unit is specified.
- Busy retail entrances in Dunstable may prefer the changeover after closing time or on a quiet trading day. Tell us your hours when you book the survey.
- Battery backup is easier to add with a new drive unit. It lets the door open or close safely in a power cut, which matters most on escape routes.
- Listed buildings and conservation areas in Dunstable make it attractive to keep the existing frame. A new operator inside the existing header changes little that can be seen.
- Hospitals and care homes in Dunstable may need an alternative entrance during the changeover. Plan signs and step-free access for wheelchair users before work starts.
Drive unit replacement in Dunstable: guide prices
The site survey is free, including the measured drawing and a fixed, itemised written quote. Guide price: typically £1,995 to £3,995 ex VAT.
| Item | Guide price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New drive unit on an existing automatic sliding door | £1,995 – £3,995 | existing leaves kept, installed, ex VAT |
| New operator on an existing automatic swing door | £1,795 – £3,995 | installed, ex VAT |
| Sensors replaced at the same time | £195 – £495 | per sensor, ex VAT |
Standards and rules in England
Whoever motorises a manual door, or builds an automatic door from separate parts, may take on the manufacturer’s legal duties for the finished door: a risk assessment, a technical file kept available for the authorities, a Declaration of Conformity, the conformity marking and instructions. You receive the Declaration of Conformity and the instructions at handover. In Great Britain a new or converted powered door must meet the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 before it is first used, and can carry the UKCA or the CE marking.
Workplace law (the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992) expects powered doors to have suitable and effective features to stop them trapping anyone and, where needed for safety, to open by hand unless they open automatically if the power fails. Doors at work must also be kept in efficient working order under a suitable system of maintenance.
How it works
- Get in touch. Call, email or use the form with the address and what you have in mind. If you are not sure which type of door suits, describe the entrance and we will suggest the options worth considering.
- Survey and advice. The survey costs nothing and carries no obligation. The engineer checks the site and explains which options suit the entrance, the people using it and the budget, before anything is priced.
- Quote in writing. You receive a fixed, itemised quote for drive unit replacement in Dunstable, covering equipment, installation, testing and handover, with the lead time and payment stages set out clearly.
- Install, test, explain. The engineer installs and commissions the door, tests the sensors, safety functions and emergency behaviour, and walks you through the controls. The handover pack records what was installed and tested.
Book a free survey in Dunstable to find out whether a new drive unit will bring your automatic door back to reliable use. The quote is fixed and itemised.
Drive unit replacement in Dunstable: questions
How long will our entrance in Dunstable be closed for the changeover?
A standard sliding door changeover typically takes a day, and a swing operator often less. The work can be scheduled early, after closing or at a weekend so it causes less disruption. Your quote shows the planned date and how long the entrance will be out of use.
How are prices worked out for drive unit replacement in Dunstable?
Our guide is £1,995 to £3,995 excluding VAT (per door), the same guide prices we use across the UK. The free site survey in Dunstable confirms the price as a fixed, itemised written quote, and the guide price tool gives you a range before anyone visits.
What lead time should we expect in Dunstable?
Once the quote is accepted, drive units are typically 2 to 4 weeks to arrive, depending on the length and weight rating needed. The changeover date is agreed with you as soon as the parts are confirmed, and it can be planned around your opening hours.
Can the replacement in Dunstable include a service plan?
It can. After the changeover we recommend a service interval based on how heavily the door is used, and a service contract can be set up with a written record of each visit. Servicing is priced separately and agreed in writing before any visit takes place.
Can automatic doors be fitted to a listed building in Dunstable?
Often, yes, but listed building consent is normally needed for changes that affect the character of the building, inside or out. Slim operators, concealed fixings and automating the existing door can all reduce the visual impact. Speak to the conservation officer at the local planning authority early; we can provide drawings and specifications to help.
Will the building stay secure while the entrance is being changed?
We plan to keep the entrance usable or secure throughout. Where a door has to come out, the work is sequenced so the opening is closed up before the engineer leaves, or a temporary door or hoarding is arranged when a longer gap cannot be avoided. How this is handled for your site in Dunstable is agreed before work starts.
Which building regulations apply to a new automatic entrance in Dunstable?
In England the guidance is Approved Document M (Volume 2) for access, Approved Document B for fire safety and escape routes, and Approved Document K for glazing and powered doors. A new entrance can count as building work, so building control should be involved before it is ordered.